Casket



April, 12, 1932. G. ROSENQVIST GASKET Filed Aug.

INVENTOR Mud? Z 4M Patented Apr. 12, 1932 v UNITED STATES GUNNARROSENQVIST, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA GASKET Application led August 1,1928. Serial No. 296,839..

This invention relates to apparatus for making hollow articles ofalvanoplastic material more particularly or the making of burialreceptacles such as caskets orthe like.

The present application is-a continuation, in part, of an applicationlbearing Serial Number 220,945, filed September 21, 1927,

which discloses a method and apparatus for lmaking one-piece seamlesscaskets by electrolytic deposition.

The present invention has among its objects the provision of specialapparatus for vmakin caskets or other hbllow articles by electro yticdeposition. A i

One object of the invention is to provide special forms and arrangementsof anodes adapted for. cooperation with a mold for the making ofcasketsof desirable ornamental configuration and form.

In carrying out my invention, I utilize a metal mold comprising aplurality of sections which are arranged when joined to constitute anintegral mold of the sha e and dimensions of the article to be forme Incarrying out the process the mold is constituted a container or vat foran electrolytic solution which submerges the entire receiving surface ofthe m'old on which the deposition' is to be made as well as the anodeswhich are susended therein in a particular manner as will e hereinafterdescribed.

In the making of hollow articles of irregu? lar shape and form byelectrolytic deposition in accordance with methods heretofore practiced,it is difficult to maintain'an even current density. I have found that asubstantially uniform current density conducive to j the formation ofdeposits of substantially uniform thickness is obtained by forming theanodes or the 'portion of the anodes adjacent the face or surface of themold on which the deposit is to be made, complementary to th contour ofthe latter. I have also found that when the mold is made with sharpintersecting faces or pro? ,jections it is necessary to isolate theportion of the anodes adjacent thereto to obtain uniform current densitywhich prevents the formation of excess metal at such portions. If suchprecautions are not taken, excess metal tional mold consisting of a basel, side porstitute a unitary mold capable of containing `ner surfaces ofthe mold on which the electro- .PATENT OFFICE will form on theprojecting portions of the mold which builds up rapidly to contact withthe anode resulting in a short circuit across the anode and mold.

One of the principal objects of the invention is the provision ofinserts such as handle brackets and hinge lugs on the galvanoplasticmetal and in accordance with the invention, such inserts are formedintegrally with the deposited metal without the use of rivets, solder orWelding.

The invention further contemplates the provision of apparatus which isespecially adapted for the making of hollow articles of relatively largesizes such as burial caskets in an expedient and eiicient manner wherebysuch articles may be produced in relatively large quantities in aneconomical manner.

1n the accompanying drawin s constituting a part hereof, and in which l1e reference 70 characters designate like parts, Fig. 1 is a verticalsectional view of a casket mold and associated apparatus embod ing theprinciples of my invention, and Fpig. 2 a top plan View thereof. 7|

The apparatus. of Fig. 1 comprises a sections 2 and end portions 3, Fig.2, which are joined at 'their flanged portions 4 by screw bolts 5 or inany other suitable manner to conan electrolytic solution. The innerdimensions of the mold are that of the outer dimensions of the articleto be formed and the inlytic solution is to be formed is of the shapeand conguration desired on the outer surfaceof the finished article.

The mold is further provided with apertures or recesses 6 forreceivinginserts7 which are made integral with the metal deposit o n thesurface of the mold to constitute ear lugs for handle brackets or thelike which are attached to the casket in a manner to be hereinafterstated. The base l of the casket is pro- 9 I vided with depressions 8 inspaced apart relation at the respective corners of the mold to produceexcess metal for hand grips. When the completed casket is removed fromthe mold, the deposits 8 are pressed upwardly to 1 project to theinterior of the casket chamber thereby forming the handle grips. By sodisplacing the metal formed in the deposit 8 of the mold, it will beprojecting inwardly in 5 the same manner as it projects downwardly afterthe molding operation.

The mold is provided with flanges 9 extending around its upper edges forreceiving clamp-bolts 10 which secure a frame 11 there- 10 to. The frameportion 11 is provided with transverse supports 12 which project througha plurality of anodes13 to hold the latter in proper spaced relation inproximity with the inner surface of the mold. The anodes 13 may consistof solid metal formed in the man- .ner illustrated in Fig. 1 but arepreferably perforated receptacles adapted to receive scrap metal 14which is disposed adjacent to a perforatedwall 15 of lead or othersuitable material. vThe perforated members are secured to a frame 16 ofwood or other suitable material provided with openings 17 forreceivingthe transverse supports 12 on which they are movably mounted.

The anodes for convenience of handling and to permitmoving them in andout of the mold, are made up in sections which are arranged and disposedin the mold in the manner shown in Fig. 2 in which a plurality of suchbaskets or anodes are disposed in parallel relation along the side wallsof the mold and one or more anodes are disposed in proximity with theend walls of the mold, all of the anodes'being electrically connected byleads 18 to a conductor 19 constituting one leg of a source of electriccurrents.

As shown in Fig. 1 the perforated walls of the anodes adjacent thel sideand end walls of the mold are shaped to correspond substantially to' thecontour of the inner surface of the mold and as shown in Fig. 2, thelead wall sections 15 of the anodes are substantial.- ly abutting or maybe so when the anodes are assembled in their working position. The Woodframe portion 16 of the anode baskets are provided with a chamfer 2O attheir edge adjacent the corners of the walls 15 to provide access of thescrap metal and the electrolytic solution to the perforations in or nearthe extreme edge of the perforated Wall.

As shown in Fig. 1, the outer perforated walls of the anodes areprovided with isolatingsections 21 of lead or other suitable materialwhich cover up the perforations in the walls 15 adjacent the sharpprojecting portions of the mold to obtain proper current density for thepurpose of preventmg a direct action between the anodes and theprojections of the mold.

The inner edges ofthe upper portions of the mold wallfsections 2 and 3Aare adapted to receive a sealer frame 23 which is temporarily held inintimate contact with the mold sections byl clamping it between theframe lportion 11 and the flange 9 of the mold sections. A rubber liner24 and a strip or liner 25 are secured to the mold or frame 11 as shown,and are adapted to project be ond the upper edge of the mold to providea atle which prevents the deposition of metal on the portion of thesealer frame 23 with which the strip or liner is in contact. 'The moldis electrically connected by leads 26 to a source of electric currentwhich constitutes the other leg of the line 19, one leg of which isconnected to the anodes 13 by leads 18.

The mold is not suspended in an electrolytic solution as commonlypracticed in the making of articles by galvanoplastic process, but ispreferably placed on or approximate to a separate vat or container 28 inwhich the electrolytic solution is stored and from which it is conductedto the -anodes 13 by a feed line 29 that connects to a pump 30 which isprovided with outlet pipes 31 that project into the anodes. A returndrain pipe 32 is provided which projects through the frame portion 11 ontop of the mold which is the level at which the solution is maintainedin the mold.

When current is applied to-the anodes and mold, pump 30 is actuated tomaintain circulation of the electrolytic solution in the mold for theduration of the process of making electrolytic deposition on the innersurface of the mold. -'l` he process is continued until a deposit ofdesired thickness has been made on the surface of the mold and is theninterrupted by disconnecting the electric circut from the currentsource. The mold is then dismembered by first laterally moving theanodes on their supports or supporting bars 12 to bring them together sothat the lower extending portions of the anodes will clear the upperconstructed portions of the.

mold and all of the anodes are lifted out of the mold or the m'old maybe lowered away from the anodes as desired. The sections 2 and 3 of themold are dismembered and the finished casket which is a one-pieceintegral member is removed. The portions of the iinished articlecorresponding to and which were formed on the depressions 8 of the baseof the mold are pressed inwardly in a suitable manner to providedepressions in the casket at the respective corners which constitutehand grips for handling the casket in its manufacture.

On account of the fact that the outer surface of the finished casket isthe surface adjacent the mold, it will possess a smooth iinish whenremoved from the mold which eliminates buing and 7polishing operationswhich are necessary when the surface adjacent the anodes constitutes`the outer surface of articles made of galvanoplastic metal.

It is evident from the foregoing description of my invention that theapparatus for inaking hollow caskets as hereinbefore set forth, issimple and economical and adapted for the mental shapes andconfigurations.

Although the invention has been illustrated l'as embodied in themanufacture of burial re- A ceptacles, it will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art that it is' adapted for use generally where it isdesired to form hollow articles in the manner stated and any article ofgalvanoplastic metal with inserts formed integrally therewith withoutdeparting from the principles herein set forth.

The term anode member as used in the claims, refers to either theperforated basket` lor baskets for anode material. or the solid blocksof anode material.

I claim: l. The combination with a liquid containing cathode of anexpansible anode member supported entirely from outside the cathodecon-l structed to deposite a substantially uniform thickness of metal onthe cathode walls.

2. The combination with a liquid containing cathode undercut on theinside, of an expansible anode member, the expansible anode beingconstructed in a number of substantially rigid sections longitudinallyof the cathode and separately removable therefrom.

3. The combination with a liquid containing cathode undercut on theinside and having a constricted portion above the undercut part, of anexpansible and substantially inflexible anode, the dimensions of theanode across the lower portion expanded and in place adjacent theundercut part of the cathode being greater is than the innercorresponding dimension at the constricted part of the cathode.

4. The combination with a cathode` of an inflexible anode expansiblebothlaterally and longitudinally of the cathode.

5. The combination with a liquid tight cathode adapted to receive agalvanoplastic deposit on the inner surface, and having a supportingflange around the top thereof, a frame member extending above saidflange,

"transverse -members supported on said frame member and extending acrosssaid cathode, perforated anode containers supported on said transversemembers and adjustable along said members transversely of the. cathode.

6. The combination with a liquid tight 'cathode adapted to receive agalvanoplastic deposit on the inner surface, of ainaterial extendingaround the top of the cathode and adapted to be free of deposit, a pairof spaced containers for pieces of anode metal within the cathode andsupported from above the bottom of said material to be out of contactwith the side and bottom cathode walls, said containers being perforatedon at least the bottom and side portions adjacent the cathode walls.

7. The combination with a liquid tight cathode for galvanoplasticmetal,of a. plurality of perforate containers therein for j pieces of anodemetal and means for supporting said containers from above the cathodeand ermitting adjustment of each container longltudinally ortransversely of tlie cathode.

8. The combination with a metal liquidcontaining galvanoplastic cathode,of ananode removably suspended therein from above "and out of contactwith the cathode surfaces,

the horizontal cross section area of said anode being larger in thelower portion than in the upper portion of the cathode thereby tofacilitate current conductance through the a'lly adjustable sections.

10. An apparatus for the electro-deposition of burial caskets comprisinga liquid containing cathode shaped to substantially the contour of thecasket to be deposited and an anode wider between portions of oppositewallsthan are the adjacent opposite walls of the cathode at a highelevation, 'said cathode being formed in a plurality of sectionsconnected by liquid tight joints and said anode comprising asubstantially insoluble perforated container for pieces of material tobe electro deposited upon the side walls and bottom of the cathode.

11. The combination with a liquid tight cathode forming a receptacle forelectrolyte and for receiving a deposit of galvanoplastic metal, of aplurality of perforate anode baskets separately supported within saidcathode and each containing pieces of metal to be deposited, some ofsaid baskets including therein an inner means for holding the pieces ofmetal therein of non-uniformdepthv and higher adjacent a cathode side ofthe anode baskets thanthroughout a portion of the bottom of the basketnearer the center of the receptacle.

12. The combination with a liquid tight cathode receptacle forelectrolyte and for receiving a deposit of galvanoplastic metal, of aplurality of perforate anode baskets separately supported within saidcathode receptacle and adapted for independent adjustbaskets being lledwith pieces of anode metal to be deposited and at least those basketsintermediate the end baskets having therein means for holding the anodepieces 5 banked higher adjacent a cathode side of the basket than oversome of the basket bottom.

14. The combination with a liquid tight elongated cathode receptacle forelectrolyte and for receiving a deposit of galvanoplastic metal on thebottom `and side and end walls of a plurality of anode basketsseparately supported from outside the cathode and arranged side by sidein the receptacle throughout most of its length and adapted foradjustment toward and from each other and toward and from the receptacleend walls independently of eachother, said baskets being lled withpieces of anode metal to be deposited and there being such a number ofbaskets that when aligned lon itudinally Within the receptacle the endbas ets will be about the same distance from the receptacle end Wallsthat the longitudinal side walls of the receptacle are spaced from thebaskets. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

GUNNAR ROSENQVIST.

